Tuesday, January 29, 2013

India : Community radio no longer just a rural phenomenon

Community radio stations have been an integral part of the Indian radio ecosystem but have failed to receive the kind of recognition they deserve. As of May 15, 2012, there are approximately 126 operational community radio stations in India, out of which 78 are focussed on education, 38 on NGOs and 10 on ‘Krishi Vigyan Kendra’.

It is a myth that community radio (CR) stations are still a rural phenomenon. In fact, facts and figures indicate the opposite.

LD Mandloi, Director General, All India Radio said, “Community radio makes a syndicated format sound local and be locally visible.” As many as 35 CR stations in India operate in urban areas. 2011-2012 saw 25 CR stations being operationalised and 100 letters of intent issued (highest number so far).

In a recent project, with the support of Schwab Charitable Fund, Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian version of educational children’s series Sesame Street initiated a radiophone project to address the educational needs of disenfranchised children through a convergence of technologies.

The radiophone project includes a localised Galli Galli Sim Sim educational programme aired on 10 community radio stations. It features 60 brand new Galli Galli Sim Sim radio episodes with a curricular focus on literacy, math and healthy habits for life.

The project is reaching over 1.4 million people in partnership with 10 community radio stations in North India and Central India – Chamba and Supi (Uttarakhand), Lalitpur (UP), Solan (HP), Mewat, Ghaghas and Gurgaon (Haryana), and Orcha and Shivpuri (MP).


(Source :  Exchange4media.com)

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